Babysitting The Amnesiac Lycan King

So I don't say anything.

The silence stretches between us until he finally mutters, "Goodnight, Taryn."

And then the call ends.

I lower the phone from my ear, staring at the screen like it might give me some

kind of answer. But it doesn't.

I let out a breath and lean back against the edge of the bed, pressing my head

against the mattress.

The world feels heavier than usual.

And for the first time in a long time—

I feel completely, utterly lost.

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I stare up at the ceiling, my back pressed against the cold floor, the documents

still sprawled around me. My chest is tight, my thoughts tangled. I should do

something-keep digging, make another call, chase the truth until I bleed for it.

But instead, I just fucking lie here.

I close my eyes. Breathe. Try not to think about him. Try not to think about the

weight of his hand on my skin, the way his voice curled around my name like it

belonged to him. Like I belonged to him.

It doesn't work.

The memory slithers in, uninvited.

I shove it down.

A loud bang makes me jolt up. My door flies open like it owes someone money,

and then there's Zoe-her arms stacked with dresses, a piece of bread jammed

between her teeth, eyes wide and full of untamed chaos. "The fuck-?" I scramble, sweeping the stolen documents off the floor in a panic,

shoving them under my bed like I'm thirteen and hiding contraband from a strict

parent.

Zoe stomps in, completely unbothered. "You," she says through a mouthful of

bread, pointing at me like I've personally offended her ancestors. "Are going out."

I blink. "The hell I am."

"Yes. The hell you are." She marches over, slamming the dresses onto my bed.

The hangers clatter against each other. "Because you need it. Desperately."

I exhale sharply, rubbing my temples. "Zoe, I'm not in the mood for some-"I motion

vaguely at the dresses, at her overly

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11:54 Tue, 25 M

Chapter 76

determined expression. "-whatever the fuck this is."

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+53)

"Oh, I know," she says, too sweetly. "That's why I'm forcing you. Because if I don't,

this room, going batshit crazy over

and I refuse to let that

glare at her. "I like being a feral conspiracy

on her hips, tilting her head like she's about to

how to stop being

your head. And what better way to do that than by

something physical?"

narrow my

She grins, all teeth.

I

knew I wouldn't

step inside, the air changes-charged,

like leather, metal, and aggression.

erratically, casting jagged shadows across

like a well-dressed crime scene. Music blasts through the speakers, heavy bass shaking the floor, but

fists slamming into flesh, grunts of

of referees calling

goddamn underground

turn

She smiles innocently.

"You dragged me to an illegal

corrects.

stare at her. Then the ring. Then back

is wrong

dismissive hand. "You

figured

voice

you when

I whip around.

there, standing next to the ring, arms crossed, expression as unreadable

ever-is Jacob Wyatt.

I blink. Hard.

to Zoe. "You planned

Zoe shrugs. "Guilty"

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25 Mar

Chapter 76

throw my hands up. "What

says casually, like he

back to

Jacob smirks. "Fighting."

"For what?"

answer. He just looks at me. And

And

something about the way

stomach

drop.

up my

is fighting

He doesn't reply.

Just smiles.

I hear

through the

gentlemen, the match

erupts. The

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around to the ring. Two fighters are already inside-one English,

then, without

It's not a sport.

It's war.

against the mat. The English guy lands a hook to

The

him into the

My stomach churns.

a normal fight. This

hiss. "I

grabbing my arm. "Just...

fucking trust

with a knockout. The Italian guy doesn't get

The crowd goes wild.

then the announcer's voice booms

a challenger unlike any you've

The lights cut out.